At the start of the American Revolution, a regiment in the British Army consisted of approximately 400 soldiers, divided into 10 companies of 38 privates each. Eight companies were regular, or battalion, companies. They were usually referred to as "hatmen" since they wore tricorn hats. The other two companies were flank companies representing the picked men of the unit. Grenadiers comprised the right flank company. They were normally the tallest and bravest men of the regiment, wearing a distinctive bearskin cap, and "looped clothes" (regimental coats with large "wings" at each shoulder seam). The opposite flank was occupied by a light infantry company. Light Infantry was developed as a result of Braddock's defeat in the French & Indian War. Wearing lighter clothing and weapons, with a visored cap, they were normally employed as skirmishers in advance of the main body of troops. Officers and sergeants assigned to flank companies were armed with smaller, lighter fusils while those with the Battalion companies carried spontoons and halberds respectively.
At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, there were approximately 48,647 men in the regular British Army. Of this number, 39,294 were infantrymen, 6,869 were cavalrymen, and 2,484 were artillerymen. Within North America, only 8,580 in 18 regiments of infantry covered a distance from Newfoundland to Florida, with the overwhelming majority located in Boston.
Cavalry was not well suited for North American service, since the lack of open terrain precluded the most advantageous cavalry tactic - the charge. Rather, two regiments of light cavalry or dragoons were dispatched to America for scouting or patrol duties. A regiment of cavalry usually consisted of 230 effectives divided into 6 troops. Each trooper carried two 6 inch pistols of .65 caliber, a short fusil or carbine, and a light sword.
The Royal Artillery was comprised of four battalions each containing eight companies. A company totalled 116 officers and men, of which 18 were gunners and 73 were matrosses (apprentice gunners) who carried fusils to guard the guns and wagons. Civilians were normally hired to act as drivers. Artillerymen wore blue regimental coats faced in red. Each infantry regiment customarily had two 3 lb guns allotted to it, which were known as battalion guns.
While not a part of the British Army, the Marines served with the Army as infantrymen in North America. The regular compliment consisted of 50 companies with 100 men each, who were assigned duties around the fleet. On shore, Marines were usually maintained at battalion strength with the grenadier and light infantry companies. Marines wore red regimental coats with white facings. The Admiralty forbade the standard army practice of purchasing commissions within Marine units. Instead, the merit promotion system was used to promote deserving officers. Four hundred Marines landed in Boston during December 1774, and another 600 in May 1775. The expedition to Lexington and Concord in April 1775 was led by a Marine, Major Pitcairn, who was killed during the charge up Bunker (more properly, Breed's) Hill later that same year.
Further reading:
The Organization of the British Army in the American
Revolution by Edward E. Curtis
